General Chat

Mac

I always fancied having a go with a Bofors, presumably something like the Oerlikon. A nice, satisfactory thump, thump, thump and not so much humping shells about.
Len

I thought some of you might like to read a poem found in the pocket of an old uniform by late friend of mine. He wrote the following note to go with it:

"Imagine a 21 year old lad. He had been in the Army for 3 and a half years and had spent most of that time in battle, first with the 8th Army in the Western Desert then in Sicily and Italy and then on D Day in Normandy. During that time he had lost 5 of his best friends and seen many others die. The regiment he was with had been ordered to fight their way well over 100 miles to try to help the troops who had landed in Holland and to say that he was aftaid, as he had been many times in the past, was putting it mildly. It was the evening before they were due to advance and were waiting for the order. He sat down and wrote the following.....,"

"Stay with me God, the night is dark,
The night is cold, my little spark
Of courage dims. The night is long.
Be with me God and make me strong.

I love a game, I love a fight,
I hate the dark, I love the light.
I love my child, I love my wife,
I am no coward......I love life.

Life with it's change of mood and shade,
I want to live, I am not afraid,
But me and mine are hard to part.
Oh unknown God, lift up my heart.

You stilled the waters of Dunkirk
and saved your servants. All your work
Is wonderful dear God, you strode
Before us down that dreadful road.

We were alone and hope had fled.
We loved our country and our dead
And could not shame them so we stayed
The course and we were not afraid.

Dear God, that nightmare road and then
That sea. We got there, we were men.
My eyes were blind, my feet were torn,
My soul sang like a bird at dawn

I know that death is but a door.
I knew what we were fighting for:
Peace for the kids, our brothers freed,
A kinder world, a cleaner breed.

I am but the son my mother bore,
A simple man and nothing more.
But God of strength and gentleness,
Be pleased to make me nbothing less.

Help me again when death is near
To mock the haggard face of fear,
That when I fall, if fall I must,
My soul may triumph in the dust."

Some time ago I copied all of this thread, edited out a lot of the "great thread" comments, kept all the memories and information postings, stuck them all on A4 sheets front and back and placed them in a ring binder

I did offer them to a couple of historian I know at my Museum with a view to getting them published, but was unsuccessful

I still have them (somewhere) and some of the postings will provide several pages in the book I have started writing of my life

I haven't decided on a title yet, I was thinking of "Memoirs of an Old Geezer"

What would you suggest ??

Mac

Lovely poem Jillian, thanks for posting it:)

Mac, the titles great, it's straight to the point, tells you what it is, I'd look no further for a title, you've chosen a good one :))

While I am here, wonder if anyone can offer any help on something?

I have an Uncle, he's 85 and was a paratrooper, he was captured by the Japanese, and was in a POW camp, he never speaks about his time there, and now we don't ask, but I was wondering, he is obviously ageing, and POW's are dwindling. I wonder if it would be acceptable to ask him if he would like to write some of his memories down, or is that something that I should leave well alone? I know that none of you know him, or what sort of man he is, but has anyone had this dilemma, and asked the questions, and was it the right thing to do, was the person you asked pleased, or were they upset you reminded them of there time in awful conditions?

Lynda, there can be no harm in asking,tell him its for the knowledge that young people need to understand the world. People are more interested in talking about the past as they get older. He can only say NO!

Mac, I well remember in the 50's, working in the casualty station ooon a TA camp, the number of times I have had to remove impacted cottonwool from ears! Sometimes needed a whiff of chloroform to be able to tackle it, for the patient , not Me!

You are probably right Jean, I should ask him, but just afraid of upsetting him, but of course he could be pleased i asked. Next time I see him, I may just be brave and ask him:)

Lynda

I would say it is easy

The man is an ex-para he must be tough to have been one

Tell him that you are asking relatives for memories to put in a Family History Book but if it is upsetting to tellof his wartime experiences, you will understand and wont bother him again

You must ask him

I have alway been sorry I didn't ask my Dad what happened to him in WW1 and where he went and when he left the army, somewhere in the back of my mind comes 17 years but unless I can confirm it by spending £30 for the unguaranteed seach at Kentigen House I will never know

I am sorry I never asked all about my Grandad also. he died 4 years before I was born

Mac

Thanks Mac:)) Putting like you have I have to ask don't I?

He knows I do the family history, he's my Mum's brother, so it would be a big part of how the families lives differed.

Thanks Mac:)))) x x

Let us know if you are successful !!

Mac xxx

Will do Mac,:) Uncles away sunning himself at the moment, he goes for months on end, and good for him, will go to see him when he gets back :)

Thanks again x x x

nudge.

I knew it was there but I don't recall reading it. Thanks for reminding me :)

Lynda,

Any news on your Uncle

Did you ever ask him ???

nudge for new readers :)

I deleted most of my threads before I became a non paying member, but didn't want to delete this thread as there are so many memories on here.

So, now I'm a paying member for a while, who paid £14.95 for the privilege !
I thought I'd give it an airing :) I love to hear memories of the war years and the years just after, when life was so different.

Any more stories will be gratefully received by me, and I'm sure by anyone else who enjoys reading them :-)

Good to see this back. We had fun writing these, didnt we!

A bump up for Michelle to read, and anyone else of course:)

I have really enjoyed reading all this thread and Michelles..... :-D